Illinois adds 30 sites to national historic register

Illinois officials say the state had 30 properties added to the National Register of Historic Places last year.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says the number shows efforts paid off from historic preservation advocates across the state. The 30 sites were added throughout last year. The National Park Service added places to the register based on recommendations from the State Historic Preservation Office, which is part of the agency.

Sites added last year in Illinois include Promontory Point in Chicago's Burnham Park, a nationally significant African-American art center and nine historic districts that combined include more than 2,800 properties.

Properties must be more than 50 years old to be eligible for the register. Each county in Illinois has at least one property or historic district on the register.